Fund Your Local Project

Deadline October 1, 2018

Fishers & Farmers Partnership for the Upper Mississippi River Basin (FFP), a fish habitat partnership, is seeking project proposals to benefit aquatic habitat in Upper Mississippi River basin streams. Federal funding may be available under the National Fish Habitat Partnership through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund the top ranked proposals.

About the Program:
Fishers & Farmers Partnership for the Upper Mississippi River Basin is a self-directed group of non-governmental agricultural and conservation organizations, tribal organizations and state and federal agencies united to add value to farms while protecting, restoring, and enhancing the 30,700 miles of streams and rivers of the Upper Mississippi River Basin.
It is a member of the National Fish Habitat Partnership.

We support the National Fish Habitat Partnership’s Goals:• Protect & maintain intact and healthy aquatic systems• Prevent further degradation of fish habitats• Reverse declines in quality & quantity of aquatic habitats to improve health of fish/aquatic species• Increase quality of fish habitat to support a broad natural diversity of fish/aquatic species

Fishers & Farmers Partnership’s Vision:The Partnership’s vision of the future is one in which landowners work together with conservationists and scientists to address the needs of their own farms, local streams, and the fishes of the basin. Lessons learned are shared with neighbors, participating organizations, and others outside of the basin. Fish populations and habitats are monitored at project sites and downstream. The Partnership helps landowners showcase successful practices to neighbors and others. With a focus on mutual respect, dialog is cultivated between agricultural and environmental organizations throughout the Upper Mississippi River Basin. This leads to better use of resources, less duplication of effort, and measurable progress toward common goals.

Our Mission:The mission of the Fishers & Farmers Partnership is to support locally-led conservation projects that add value to farms while restoring aquatic habitat and native fish populations.

Cost Sharing By Partners:USFWS requires at least a 1:1 cost share, 3:1 is best. Cost share may be in-kind services such as time or cash. Cost share may include monitoring, farmer’s time with project maintenance.

Applicant Eligibility:
Applicants can be federal, state, county, and non-government organizations in either natural resources or agriculture with the ultimate goal of adding value to farms while restoring aquatic habitat and native fish populations. Managers and supervisors responsible for implementing fish habitat projects must document compliance with all applicable Federal laws and regulations (e.g. National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Rivers and Harbors Act). Fish habitat projects must also comply with any applicable state, local and tribal laws and regulations that do not conflict with, or are not preempted by, federal laws and regulations.

The following activities are not eligible for NFHP funding:
• Actions required by existing Federal or State regulatory programs. Fish habitat expenditures shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, other expenditures authorized or required from other entities under other agreements or provisions of law.
• Realty costs (e.g. lease or purchase interests in real property, or to make rental or other land use incentive payments to landowners).• Pre-award costs such as preliminary design, surveys, and appraisals.• Operation, maintenance of facilities, structures, other construction.

General Requirements

Project Duration:
Work is to be completed within 18 months

Terms of Funding:
Funding must be spent within 24 months

Priority Habitat:
Outside Driftless Area (DA), but DA projects will be considered